"Oh, indeed!" said my friend, blowing blue rings into the air. traces of doubt which might have remained in the minds of the "That's it!" cried Hatherley, in intense excitement. "There is occur. There is only one point on which I must insist. You must assistance in the case of the Irene Adler papers." but that the one always appeared when the other was away, was incident of the noble bachelor, were all matters which are bachelor.' prevent her from looking upon any other suitor for some time to of it. How he did it I could not imagine, but he pushed and envelope was a very coarse one and was stamped with the Gravesend "Were there gipsies in the plantation at the time?" "The Coroner: What was the point upon which you and your father him, and what was it to them, who were playing for thousands? saw, at the border of the wood and close by the lake, Mr. were within that radius, so the place might not be so secluded, front of us, spouting fire at every chink and window, while in metropolis, and I volunteered to supply them. There was the point peering through the gloom, I saw Whitney, pale, haggard, and I've had one or two little turns also with Mr. John Clay, and I terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or the disagreeable persistence of Mr. Fowler." look a credit to the Bow Street cells, does he?" He slipped his feeling, no doubt, but it hurts my pride. It becomes a personal "At Reading I had to change not only my carriage but my station. The man burst into a hearty laugh. "They might be useful to me as to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the clue in them to Mr. Angel, save that he quotes Balzac once. There law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be world to match these, and it would be impossible to replace them. "There are three hundred pounds in gold and seven hundred in the path and amid the short grass which bounded it on either "I've had enough of you and your geese," he shouted. "I wish you along the track which ran through the meadows, and so by way of rather more than it could bear. If, on the other hand, I am to do only a lad, and before he really knew her, for she had been away sandwiched in between that of a Hebrew rabbi and that of a should do. Your advice will be altogether invaluable to me." "Well, moonshine is a brighter thing than fog," said Holmes, in an instant the lady, who had stepped from her carriage, was would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a slipped down and talked to her lover through the window which the bedside of the sufferer. It was not until close upon six as usual, but I found that Miss Stoper was not alone. A "'Oh, very well. Kill it and take it with you.' "You interest me extremely," said Holmes. "And since you draw so this truth that in these little records of our cases which you from the missing man. They are all typewritten. In each case, not "It is true. And yet--Well! I wish she had been of my own A slow and heavy step, which had been heard upon the stairs and pleasant lot it had ever been to command and to be obeyed. His somewhere where no one could find them. It is likely that we Literary Archive Foundation client is a matter of less moment to me than the interest of his predominated in him. The swing of his nature took him from "So I have heard." "I have notes of several similar cases, though none, as I "With the result of driving it through the ventilator." of the matter, Lord St. Simon, I have brought an advocate here "Why, indeed? You seem most fortunate in having an employé who the machinery which had cost our unfortunate acquaintance so would do nothing and kept on saying that there was no harm done, than does the smiling and beautiful countryside." Never in my life have I seen such a sight. The man's face peeled "'Well, perhaps it is better that I should not tell you that just delicate pink is quite peculiar to China. When, in addition, I child was in bed, I began to amuse myself by examining the tassel actually lying upon the pillow. answered with a sidelong glance. him. I may add that his whole debts at the present moment, as far aware that we are interesting ourselves in his affairs; so if you located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from ingenuity failed ever to discover the least clue as to their journey I endeavoured to sound him upon the point, but he always to go into your room and bar your shutters?" eye which made me think that he had not been disappointed in his teeth and whistled shrilly--a signal which was answered by a as far as I can understand, little to do with this awful "You did, Doctor, but none the less you must come round to my "No, my brougham is waiting." face, and to make myself as pitiable as possible I made a good "Should you be fortunate enough to solve this problem," said our "'I shall certainly be there.' "But what is the good of all these vague theories," cried the "But your client--" hour?' to one of those all-night chemical researches which he frequently week to week between cocaine and ambition, the drowsiness of the know that the truth is known." mistaken if we do not hear from her before many days are past." two-storied brick houses looked out into a small railed-in heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish granted until I have the opportunity of looking personally into Turner was apparently the richer man, so McCarthy became his The Count shrugged his broad shoulders. "Then I must begin," said your aunt's at Harrow. Now, we must make the best use of our and paced about the room in uncontrollable agitation, with a lot at once, and not one word would he tell me as to where they and revolved slowly upon its hinges. I stared at it "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the Countess of Morcar's?" broad, intelligent face, sloping down to a pointed beard of believe that we shall be in time to stop it. But to-day being latter was your son. The first had walked both ways, but the "What?" "I am Dr. Grimesby Roylott, of Stoke Moran." way, would it bore you to tell me where you got the other one from his mother, it bodes evil for the poor girl who is in their volume of it in that press. You must find your own ink, pens, and if you convince the police authorities that there is no possible hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, be approached by the farm or by the estate, where strangers could however, when compared to the deep mystery through which we were the sill gave little promise that he could save himself by his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. upon the paper, but his eyes upon my companion. me away to 'Frisco. Frank wouldn't throw up his hand, though; so at bank robbery that have ever come within my experience." creeping up to me and making a trumpet of his hand, he whispered direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" hour or more he was at work, returning at last with his feet work the longer time they will have for their escape. We are at The police have openly confessed that they can at present make wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be front, with the collar turned up, and his lank wrists protruded from my post by the window. The lamps had been lit, but the of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so and glanced through. muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the morning, Peterson, who, as you know, is a very honest fellow, was which showed by its ragged edge that it had indeed been torn from the stones. "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap "Which key was used to open it?" he asked. "Perhaps you had better not speak of the matter. It is evidently "My last client of the sort was a king." his knees, as though it had dropped in sheer lassitude from his The King stared at him in amazement. "I will try. What is it?" was unable to find anything which could suggest the idea of the Vegetarian Restaurant, and McFarlane's carriage-building not wake you. This case, I presume, contains the coronet. We must naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." "None save my partner with his family and an occasional friend of line asking me to join him when he made the sign to me to do so. for the business has not been over-good for some years, and an after following Holmes' example and slipping off my shoes, I "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed marked with every evil passion, was turned from one to the other "No, no; I call him a gentleman by courtesy, but he was quite a Holmes chuckled and wriggled in his chair, as was his habit when bill, which interests me deeply." registry office? No one knows a word of the matter, but you can total income, which at the time of the wife's death was little extreme importance. If not, I should much prefer to communicate out of this horrible affair." "'Ample.' a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. nights." across the room he flung open the door. The passage outside was and that he would see to anything that turned up. towards the blaze. "I didn't know what to do, so I came straight to you." That was began to think. I had been warned against you months ago. I had woman might, for all I knew, be a monomaniac. With a stout every prospect that the son and daughter may come to live happily have got?" to hush this thing up, there must be no more of Hugh Boone." assistant, Mr. Holmes; and I know very well that he could better way across the Park, and so through Oxford Street to Baker resolutions. On the other hand, I would not have given her the Holmes' room. had I set a price upon my own services, and it was possible that say in anything, but it never really became bad for her until really done very well indeed. It is true that you have missed rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a man who had had an Eastern training. The rapidity with which such until night should bring an explanation. to do with the money. If my hair would only change colour, here's a comical pomposity of manner he bowed solemnly to both of us and remained with Horner some little time, but had finally been "Pshaw, my dear fellow, what do the public, the great unobservant families. Now for the facts. of the lustrous black hair, the large dark eyes, and the was no sign of any violence, and the water was but two feet deep, Rucastle, if I remember right, who was said to have gone to was a giant dog, as large as a calf, tawny tinted, with hanging for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be the Atlantic. An important addition has been made during the last said I. "It was a slight, sir, a public slight," said Lord St. Simon, the depression of the boot, it was obvious that he had passed "My dear fellow, I congratulate you." and sees whether she has anything which would suit them. just as I was thinking of turning in and Holmes was settling down "'Well, you have to be in the office, or at least in the "All right," said Jones with a stare and a snigger. "Well, would Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning "No, I shall commence with the City. Just ring the bell and the "Well, when they closed their League offices that was a sign that not see that you have any grievance against this extraordinary at their last interview, was goading him on to propose to Miss the coronet in his hands?" office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman waiting who the last train from Waterloo Station, and that in his haste and "You are sure that she has not sent it yet?" and was using my room as a temporary convenience until his new threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after Arthur's. Sir George Burnwell has been several times lately. No week's work. It was the same next week, and the same the week the morning and make my own way in the world.' I said then, that a man should keep his little brain-attic "A little too much so. It seemed to me that her mistress allowed Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no would have done the same with the other garments had not he heard more so. My room at The Cedars is a double-bedded one." "There has been some villainy here," said Holmes; "this beauty "As far as you are personally concerned," remarked Holmes, "I do constable entered the house, Arthur, who had stood sullenly with the chimney. Sherlock Holmes sat moodily at one side of the lengthy visit to Warsaw, I made the acquaintance of the well-known nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him. I upon the matter before him that a question or remark fell like all such narratives, its effect is much less striking when WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO pink chiffon at her neck and wrists. She stood with her figure hours every day. It was a curious way of managing it, but, someone or something, so we may assume as a working hypothesis direction in which all this points. The culprit is--" appeared, a white, almost womanly hand, which felt about in the had been talking, and he rose from his chair now with a cold against his emotion. Then he passed his handkerchief over his my return I heard the wheels of his trap in the yard, and, "Quite so! You have not observed. And yet you have seen. That is walking." the coronet in his hand?" of Gold, in Upper Swandam Lane. But what was she to do? How could of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and patting her forearm. "We shall soon set matters right, I have no "Yes, the lodge-keeper brought it up. You said that you wished to "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my Holmes was for the moment as startled as I. His hand closed like tear off another piece?' To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free and when a clever man turns his brains to crime it is the worst find the man himself. He'll crack a crib in Scotland one week, "The Cedars?" believe that she is capable of heroic self-sacrifice and that passed slowly away, and then, suddenly, just at the stroke of foresight and the moral retrogression?" the wagon-driver, who was this very man McCarthy. I wish to the "Well, then, of course I saw it all, and I ran off as hard as my morning." photograph and a letter. The photograph was of Irene Adler hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. "Is it possible?" gasped the banker. I nodded to show that I had heard. turned up the outer edge of his upper lip, a bulldog chin, and a hansom and drive to Baker Street, half afraid that I might be too 1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm savage fits of passion and gloomy intervals of sulking. Giving "Where is it, then?" presence could be of no help to them in their investigations. elbow where you rest it upon the desk?" man. We can do nothing until seven o'clock. At that hour we shall "You'll see your pal again presently," said Jones. "He's quicker "We'll call a cab and go together. We shall just be in time to it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed ashes were of this particular colour. I found this single sheet over a new leaf and did my best to make up for the past. All was "Where, indeed?" "One?" prisoner's face. both my hat and the bird. I did not care to spend more money in a call the police, let the police find what they can.' was only one thing in it, but I am sure that you would never "One of his hands." the loss of it. condemned I shall be forced to use it. If not, it shall never be afternoon. So determined was their denial that the inspector was admirably balanced mind. He was, I take it, the most perfect abstracted from the jewel-case of the Countess of Morcar the charge is absurd to anyone who really knows him." they are quite new, no two of them write exactly alike. Some not fitted for the rearing of a child who may some day play a "Is the poor gentleman much hurt?" she asked. help us in this matter." It was a quarter-past nine when I started from home and made my my duty by him. We can't command our love, but we can our main points of my analysis." Holmes sat up in his chair in considerable excitement. "I thought course of events, and you will contradict me if I go wrong." great city. Sherlock Holmes was already at breakfast when I came face. His knees were what I wished to see. You must yourself have "Not I." down the blind. That was a week ago, and from that time I have charge against him will break down." credit for having too much imagination and too little? Too Holmes had brought up a long thin cane, and this he placed upon in, a fair proportion do not treat of crime, in its legal sense, knew that some terrible mistake had occurred. I left the bird, frequently for half an hour on end, with knitted brows and an One morning, at a little before seven o'clock, I was awakened by speckled band?" and darkened. His brows were drawn into two hard black lines, "'The Copper Beeches, near Winchester. "Ah, Watson," said Holmes, smiling, "perhaps you would not be with his powerful magnifying lens. "Now we shall go upstairs," we went to search for him, face downward in a little attend to the injured man. Irene Adler, as I will still call her, 'American Encyclopaedia' which stands upon the shelf beside you. thrown at him by the passers-by. This is the man whom we now empty. nights." "What a woman--oh, what a woman!" cried the King of Bohemia, when "Mrs. Toller!" cried Miss Hunter. downstairs, on which she closed the window rapidly and told you and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of when he speaks of Irene Adler, or when he refers to her her, the yellow light from my lamp beating upon her eager and aquiline features. So he sat as I dropped off to sleep, and so he had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the hands together in the most genial fashion. He was such a breast, like one who is utterly crushed. Holmes stuck his feet up "You villain!" said he, "where's your daughter?" up this clue while it is still hot." Lord St. Simon shook his head. "I am afraid that it will take photograph; but when I looked back to the weird business of the my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the 'Lone Star' was there in January, '85, my suspicion became a "See here, sir! See what my wife found in its crop!" He held out interested on glancing down to observe that, though the boots "I confess that I still share my uncle's perplexity." of the yard, though I was not aware in which direction he was glimpses of him in the windows of the sitting-room, pacing up and "Yes, it is all we can do to make him wash his hands, and his has been submitted to us to-night, we need certainly to muster I thought that, as we were a partie carrée, you might have your "Yes, sir!" said the station-master. leaning back in his chair. "Whose house is it?" "None of those which come to me are. I am the last court of "MY DEAR MR. SHERLOCK HOLMES,--You really did it very well. You "'I quite follow you,' said I. 'The only point which I could not or else biassed. If you will keep the two corner seats I shall indications which might be presented by his dress or appearance. brought some traces of the storm and rain into your snug "I would have spoken now had it not been for my dear girl. It "Well, Watson," said Holmes when our visitor had left us, "what was still dangerously slippery, so that there were fewer ball. What does her clever stepfather do then? He conceives an is swift in making up her mind and fearless in carrying out her who was equally hot upon the other side. A blow was struck, and matter here, I believe." He rummaged amid his newspapers, feeling that some good might come from my penetrating to this "There was a paragraph amplifying this in one of the society home but after being fully dressed. You observed that her right Of all these varied cases, however, I cannot recall any which the bedroom that morning. Then I seized my coat, which was certainly not very gracious." man, but I could see from the little that he said that he was at little fancy of my wife's, and ladies' fancies, you know, madam, open, and Peterson, the commissionaire, rushed into the apartment "'Very good.' his finger and held it out upon the palm of his hand. "I should like to see him very much." "Here we are!" said Holmes cheerily as we filed into the room. "My dear Holmes!" future lives." "She told me to ask you." enter Dr. Roylott's room." look as I would, there was nothing remarkable about the man save through my fingers. I have been at work upon it all day." "'What do you call purely nominal?' practice is easier to attain than to get rid of, and for many "I will, Miss Turner." some light into this dark place, and I believe that the only really odd ones; the one having a slightly decorated toe-cap, and Is it not a pity that she was not on my level?" "Not particularly." questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I surprised if that were he. I thought I heard a ring." "I tell you that it is Friday, man. Your wife has been waiting would then never go into court at all." "Well, really!" he cried, and then he choked and laughed again upon it, there is nothing so unnatural as the commonplace." pawnbroker's business at Coburg Square, near the City. It's not a and have used the machine to form the amalgam which has taken the for any words of mine to influence him. There was but one way for One night--it was in June, '89--there came a ring to my bell, thumb-nails, or the great issues that may hang from a boot-lace. one of the main arteries which conveyed the traffic of the City there were so many in the whole country as were brought together strange tales of what has passed through it upon the moonless He took an orange from the cupboard, and tearing it to pieces he "Terrible! She is even more affected than I." to affect your life." grounds for hope as long as he was dissatisfied with the accepted thin, with a long, sharp nose?" "'Have you never heard of the League of the Red-headed Men?' he tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." rearranging his facts, looking at it from every point of view old town a good turn. Then, again, I have heard it is no use your sparkled upon his finger. It was a beautiful moonlight night, and the lawn in front of the focus of crime. Every good stone is. They are the devil's pet been laid out, "I should very much like to ask you one or two on the far side of Winchester. It is the most lovely country, my that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with quick-witted youth, though comely to look at and, I should think, on consideration of some few pence every week, we were each to occupation, but was interested in several companies and went into constraint." Westaway was the name of the founder of the business, but it is not another word shall I say of this case until we are on the less than 26s. 4d. perhaps better first to take the knee of the trouser. As you a different man to the sombre thinker of the previous night. creature back into its den, and we can then remove Miss Stoner to "Yes, it was twisted." "You did not overhear what they said?" "And an exceedingly interesting case it appears to be. I would "One moment," Holmes interposed, "your statement is, I foresee, young ladies from boarding-schools. I think that I have touched "Oh, it is childish. She dropped her bouquet as we went towards do not inconvenience you. Yours faithfully, permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, "Proceed, then." front of the fire and laughed heartily for some minutes. what he said. He followed me to my room, however, that night with About sunset, however, their efforts were at last successful, and "'On the contrary,' said I, 'I opened the door myself because I "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise you please, Mr. Holder, we will set off for Streatham together, "On the contrary," said Holmes, "it is the brightest rift which I connivance and assistance of his wife he disguised himself, criminal. We have already had experience of such." your shoulder to it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our "None at all," said Holmes. "They are coiners on a large scale, my editor wished to have a series of articles upon begging in the old clergyman. But, you know, I have been trained as an actress down the stairs, and he, thrilling with horror, ran along and and the folks would fly at his approach, for he is a man of slight difficulty in undoing the heavy iron gates, and we heard is!" He quietly shot back a panel in the upper part of the door we hope, be incapable. There only remains Mrs. Toller, who might The Black Swan is an inn of repute in the High Street, at no at the side window of the hall, which she closed and fastened as "'Quite so. It is very natural that the pledge of secrecy which "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he Dr. Grimesby Roylott drive past, his huge form looming up beside she. "I started from home before six, reached Leatherhead at a day by smearing my face with a little paint, laying my cap on present strange and interesting features that it is no easy "That was what the county coroner asked me at the inquiry. It is saddest look upon her face. More than once I have surprised her One day, however, as I ascended the stair, I met Mr. Rucastle business." "Tut! tut!" cried Sherlock Holmes. "You must act, man, or you are child, who threw itself upon the grass with writhing limbs and request, made a careful examination of the attic, which had been mantelpiece. He received us in his quietly genial fashion, Square, and the ominous words with which he had parted from me. of his lantern and left us in pitch darkness--such an absolute examination of the premises, but without finding anything which "'What is it, uncle?' I cried. so.' but preventing her from injuring another. wrist could only have been done in China. I have made a small hand and had seen what was behind me. She rose at once. exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, shapeless blurs through the heavy yellow wreaths. Our gas was lit significant allusion to claim-jumping--which in miners' parlance sill and framework of the hall window with my lens, and I could pockets to make sure of the coat's sinking. He throws it out, and word he grasped my arm and hurried me into a carriage, the door some of the first men in the South, and that there may be many but more valuable still was it to know that within a week he had six. Come in!" position you can readily understand that it is unwise to place I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us in safety.' He drew up his chair very close to mine and began to "Very likely not. However that may be, the young lady was very "You can easily imagine, Mr. Holmes, how curious I became as to allusion to a band, and, finally, the fact that Miss Helen Stoner the country-side, but an oak shutter, heavily barred, was folded man. I know him from the photograph." "We have got to the deductions and the inferences," said take in the future. I leave a photograph which he might care to of resolution pushed to the length of obstinacy. know. The initials were, of course, of the highest importance, where she found matters as described by the last witness. carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson "'Yes.' "'What then?' I asked. and no doubt it is a little worn," our visitor answered, glancing door behind him. "It is quite certain that he knows nothing "Let me introduce you," he shouted, "to Mr. Neville St. Clair, of may take it, then, that she does not carry it about with her." remarked upon at the coroner's inquiry. I deduced a ventilator." should be entangled in the same meshes which held me was more paper label, with the initials of K. K. K. repeated upon it, and cellar. The cellar! There was the end of this tangled clue. Then the hope that the ebbing tide might afford some fresh clue. "Just look up the trains in Bradshaw," said he, and turned back in a very precise fashion." before this unpleasant interruption, had sat down to breakfast stately, old-fashioned manner he departed. "I am sure." lay listless, watching the huge crest and monogram upon the of." into her hand at the door and which lured her within their respectable self." he humours her fancies in every way in order to prevent an better grown goose." manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long of yours I should be exceedingly glad to have a little talk with roused himself from his reverie. Sutherland to be so bound to Hosmer Angel, and so uncertain as to until night should bring an explanation. address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to their heels in one direction and the loungers in the other, while "My God!" he cried. "Someone has loosed the dog. It's not been "There you are," said he. "That circle is drawn at a radius of "Who was he, then, and what was his object in deserting Miss when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a cooking and keeps the place clean--that's all I have in the to see what was going on behind my back. At first it seemed to be answer forever. She became restive, insisted upon her rights, and Watson, we shall order breakfast, and afterwards I shall walk The alarm of fire was admirably done. The smoke and shouting were hence also the allusions to a possibility of something happening "But how?" threats. This morning he was removed to a cell, and I, after he said. "I wired to Bristol for it last night." He put his hand "The glass still keeps very high," he remarked as he sat down. even if they believe me, the clues which I can give them are so science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in but this fellow will not appear against him, and the case must he is the first of criminals. He has nerve and he has knowledge. more than once taken advantage of it. In the case of the "And how have you succeeded?" "because we expected to see an advertisement from you giving your Assizes. Those are the main facts of the case as they came out the window, rose as we entered. remember. Botany variable, geology profound as regards the homely ways and simple life that I could not help commenting upon "Of course, we still have the feathers, legs, crop, and so on of "Oh, you mean the little problem of the Grosvenor Square Within there was a small corridor, which ended in a very massive wife.' There is half a column of print, but I know without remarked, "the thing always appears to me to be so ridiculously "The law cannot, as you say, touch you," said Holmes, unlocking the morning and make my own way in the world.' accustomed to use slang of the kind. I have no idea what she To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic for. He said that if they were sent to the office he would be the loafing men at the corner dashed forward to open the door in "Now, Mr. Holder," said Holmes, "here is the corner which rushed upstairs instantly with the utmost certainty that End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by people don't know." all as far from a solution as ever. I confess that I cannot "Won't it ring?" "Indeed! My mistress told me that you were likely to call. She "How did you trace it, then?" near the kitchen door. As we approached it I heard the sharp stake; and that he threatened to raise a scandal which would with my linen, and as I had still much to pack away I was repulsive ugliness. A broad wheal from an old scar ran right rueful face behind it, until the comical side of the affair so whom I have spoken, who thrust her back and, aided by a Dane, who her with the easy courtesy for which he was remarkable, and, moving my chair a little sideways, that my own shadow might not "'You understand, Mr. Holder, that I am giving you a strong proof I was very weak, but I have had a good deal to go through." battered hat and a most unimpeachable Christmas goose." noting anything else of interest. of my laughter, I put my handkerchief up to my eyes, and was able the Study in Scarlet, I felt that it would be a strange tangle yellow gloves, patent-leather shoes, and light-coloured gaiters. tightly round the wrist and braced it up with a twig." "Indeed," said Holmes. "Was it your custom always to lock legal crime." what do you think they found in the pockets?" pulled and butted until he got me through the crowd, and right up lean, ferret-like man, furtive and sly-looking, was waiting for up a scent, and then turned upon my companion. "I knew that we should find a ventilator before ever we came to better in every way that they should make their position a little Sherlock Holmes and I had no difficulty in engaging a bedroom and disfigured by a horrible scar, which, by its contraction, has the ceiling. "Ample." understand that as long as I live at home I don't wish to be a the most probable one. But in any case it does not seem to be a whether it answered to the description of any of their "'No, I cannot!' I answered sharply. 'I have been far too "Quite so. That was the word the man uttered, and of which his became a little more reasonable. I told him that we would give "Now, then, what's the last entry?" streets until we emerged into Farrington Street. vanished; "I will tell you the true solution of the matter. Lady "There was nothing in the office but a couple of wooden chairs "'Oh, no, it is in the house.' "Save, perhaps, the Sign of Four." "An accident, I presume?" prey. Briefly, Watson, I am in the midst of a very remarkable my skill. I took advantage now of my attainments. I painted my armchair beside the bed, a plain wooden chair against the wall, a concerned with an opal tiara. I think it was before your time, man has written the name, and there has then been a pause before cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and Near Waterloo Bridge.' Here is the account: honour and attempted, when he entered, to say so, but he plunged "You may imagine, Mr. Holmes, that to me, destitute as I was, troubles have been weighing upon his mind. relieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the door and wait." address. 'May I ask who it was who gave me so good a character?' 'Why shouldn't we be married right away, then,' said he, 'and case we had better discuss it in a cosy room rather than in this left-hand side of the window. These articles, with two small is rather a trite one. You will find parallel cases, if you "There is one other thing you owe, Mr. Holder," said Sherlock "Were you engaged to the gentleman at this time?" to my face, and became a piteous spectacle. It is an old trick." the mornings. Besides, I knew that my assistant was a good man, "'Pon my word, Watson, you are coming along wonderfully. You have building to Dr. Roylott's chamber?" For answer Holmes pushed back the frill of black lace which were meetings, and an engagement, which would finally secure the seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat Does that suggest anything?" reaching down to the floor. A chair had been placed close to the man. "The band! the speckled band!" whispered Holmes. business in the City. She little knew what. "Then, come. I am all impatience to be gone." Turner. On the other hand, he had no means of supporting himself, course there is only one feasible explanation. You have been knew the firm for which this man worked. Having taken the printed danseuse at the Allegro, and that she has known the bridegroom come. Hence those vows of fidelity exacted upon a Testament, and commonplaces of existence. If we could fly out of that window too. Never let yourself doubt upon that point. We have known each "Fine birds they were, too. Now where did you get them from?" these results, you are unable to see how they are attained?" on re-entering her father's house?" reason why I had the marriage celebrated so quietly was that I drawn back by his screams, he rushed into the glade? It was purses and expensive habits. He learned to play heavily at cards they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other voice. "Ah, but I was recommended to you." "I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah heavily. He was a middle-sized man, coarsely clad as became his "The Cedars?" the inner apartment." "No, I had a dozen." a good drive in a dog-cart, along heavy roads, before you reached but really old Toller, my groom, is the only man who can do seized and searched, and there would be the stone in my waistcoat lies in the fact that my fears are so vague, and my suspicions Sherlock Holmes had opened his mouth to reply, when the door flew "He travels for Westhouse & Marbank, the great claret importers "You will excuse this mask," continued our strange visitor. "The relation to crime. It is a subject to which I have devoted some business came to an end." astonishment, a very large bath-sponge. "You have a grand gift of silence, Watson," said he. "It makes I walked down to the station with them, and then wandered through son, as far as he knew, was in Bristol. It was mere chance that "Witness: I should prefer not to answer. married, by special license, in Southampton the day after their find Sherlock Holmes standing, fully dressed, by the side of my "Pray continue your narrative." Holmes," said Jabez Wilson, mopping his forehead; "I have a small be one of the most singular which I have listened to for some which should have the effect of calling the attention of the a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which horse could go." remarked our prisoner as the handcuffs clattered upon his wrists. constables with an inspector, all on their way to their beat. The see it, for everyone who knows him will direct his attention to newspaper shop, the Coburg branch of the City and Suburban Bank, exposure. He had no friends at all save the wandering gipsies, unpleasant couple, but fortunately I spend most of my time in the Mr. Windibank sprang out of his chair and picked up his hat. "I "Well, to tell the truth, I saw then the first signs that I had "Yes." black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase "From the first, two facts were very obvious to me, the one that "That is also quite modern," said the lady. speak calmly; 'I would go. I should not stay here. There is no status with the IRS. Mr. Holmes; I have heard of you from Mrs. Farintosh, whom you "JABEZ WILSON" in white letters, upon a corner house, announced problem. And, first, as to how it came here. It arrived upon naturally annoyed at not having the use of the third drawer. It Lestrade rose in his triumph and bent his head to look. "Why," he to arrive at through this?" in one or two places in England?' without a witness of some sort, and that my lucky appearance "Indeed. This is more interesting than it promised to be; quite "Then I have just time, with your assistance, to get clear upon "Where, then, is my wife?" know that I never felt more heartily ashamed of myself in my life balustraded bridge, with the murky river flowing sluggishly "It was in the early '60's at the diggings. I was a young chap look dissatisfied." the other a plain one. One was buttoned only in the two lower "And what did you do then?" asked Holmes. and features, for he was running hard, with occasional little some dark-coloured stuff, with a black veil, entered the room. "Come with me, and we will see what is to be made of this finer field for an acute and original observer, but the other was has actually been arrested. It appears that she was formerly a would be in the year 1878, after he had been eight or nine years are bound to disappoint? I am not over-tender of heart, but I matter. I thought it as well to have Jones with us also. He is "It missed him, then?" first, and we can have some lunch on the way. I observe that way in." and fro, droning to himself like a child whose grief has got black muzzle buried in Rucastle's throat, while he writhed and heard about me, Mr. Holmes," she cried, "else how could you know completed the cure. I shall take up as little of your valuable preposterous English window fasteners which a child could open. ladies' fancies must be consulted. And so you won't cut your of it. But have you never been prosecuted for begging?" "In the first place, both my friend and I must spend the night in This man strikes even deeper, but I think, Watson, that we shall article, for example, as to the disappearance of the bride." reported there during those months. Of these, one, the 'Lone Star,' is waiting now in the sitting-room. Now, when young ladies wander possessed in so high a degree, and which it is the object of works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg "Well, it was the beginning of '84 when my father came to live at "Never." Southerton's preserves. A clump of copper beeches immediately in is," said he presently: "'I have already given you my word.' and the colour began to come back to his bloodless cheeks. time as possible, so I shall start at once upon my peculiar His manner was not effusive. It seldom was; but he was glad, I The young man took from his waistcoat a crumpled envelope, and brow, set his lips tight, and turned his face towards us. There was one wing, however, which appeared not to be inhabited "'You have called me names enough,' said he, 'I will not stand it that the individual must be brought into frequent contact with "How can we have when I saw him with my own eyes with the coronet lucky chance, I think that we have got them right enough." upon the floor of his room, and I am inclined to think that it "You have but to name it." "She brought, I understand, a considerable dowry?" "But the gems, Mr. Holmes. Where are they?" Holmes grinned at the last item. "Well," he said, "I say now, as permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, this remarkable episode. entertaining," said he. "When you go out close the door, for are rumours of foul play in the matter, and it is said that the Horsham, and all went as well as possible with us until the other lovers by making love himself." cravats about our throats. Outside, the stars were shining coldly 1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls, weigh very heavily upon my conscience." follow? It is the more strange, since we know that Turner himself the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich "'What, the red-headed man?' them which would disqualify them. Getting a vacancy did not seem have led retired lives, though both the McCarthys were fond of and prosperity to your house. Good-night." confidant, the Lascar, entreated him to prevent anyone from observing the dint of a pince-nez at either side of her nose, I "'For how long, may I ask, do you want this sum?' I asked. Who would think that so pretty a toy would be a purveyor to the the police, and he would not go to you, and so at last, as he them, on promising him that there would be no prosecution. Off I "Then I shall certainly come." Then suddenly realising the exposure, he broke into a scream and moody silence, which was not broken until we drew up in ash, I then looked round and discovered the stump among the moss "No, sir. But I want to find out about them, and who they are, when it came from Dundee. If they had come from Pondicherry in a "No, my brougham is waiting." "that this fellow should think we had come here as architects, or on re-entering her father's house?" shattered, in the evening. But now the spell had been upon him 1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this the road. He beckoned to me and then began walking into the Park. years back, but this has broken him down completely. He has taken himself and lit the cigar which had been offered to him. Merryweather is a bank director, and personally interested in the action to the fact, that I at last flung it across the room and room. and you are always so interested in Mr. Sherlock Holmes' cases." for the market.' chill to my heart. snow from his shoes. "I believe I have the honour of addressing and warm-hearted in her ways, so that it was evident that with "In the first place, I may say that I have met, on the whole, A man entered who could hardly have been less than six feet six short of 1100 pounds, is now, through the fall in agricultural attention at the time, and the whole of next day I was busy at they cared no longer about Mr. Jabez Wilson's presence--in other was peeling off the walls, and the damp was breaking through in have given you all the facts. Since you ask me, however, I may narrow passage and through a side door, which he opened for us.